Boat rack

ABSTRACT

A support structure for storage of boats and like articles in the form of a rack structure with defined openings in which the articles are stored. Brackets are provided in the openings for supporting horizontal beams which directly support the articles. The brackets have fastening means for frictionally engaging the rack structure to secure the brackets to the rack structure, the frictional engagement being easily releasable to permit shifting of the brackets for adjustable bracket spacing to accommodate different size articles.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Leonard J. Dudzik 2,879,087 3/1959Haglund 287/2094 Dolton, Ill. 3,385,458 5/1968 Gresham 248/119X [21]Appl. No. 777,232 FOREIGN PATENTS [221 FM d gi 1,243 3/1926 Australia287/2094 [451 257,996 5/1963 Australia 211/49 [73] Ass1gnee lnterlakeSteel Corporatron 450 422 8/1948 Canada 211/49 Chm o m.

g Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-Abraham Frankel[54] BOAT RACK Attorney-William P. Porcelli 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 211/13, I

21 287/2094 ABSTRACT: A support structure for storage of boats and likel?!- Cl. articles in the form of a rack structure with defined openings[50] Fle'd ofSearch 211/49, 44, in which the articles are tored.Brackets are provided in the J; 714 openings for supporting horizontalbeams which directly sup- (cu1'$1'y);287/2094 port the articles. Thebrackets have fastening means for fric' tionally engaging the rackstructure to secure the brackets to [56] References cued the rackstructure, the frictional engagement being easily UNITED STATES PATENTS2,l0l,3l7 12/1937 Lemieux releasable to permit shifting of the bracketsfor adjustable bracket spacing to accommodate different size articles.

E i I Immu- IIHHIHI. I

" ATENTEDIAR 2m sum 2 or 2 EIEVDFIIIIII ate a 172002502 L e02zardcZDudza' This invention relates to the art of rack structures andparticularly to improvements in rack structures forsupporting boats andlike articles, with.,particularemphasis on the immediatesupport meansfor-articles in a storage opening: or bay.

During off season periods, boats are commonly storedin shelf or rackstructuresprovided with storage openings orbays defined by a structureof connected .vertical and horizontal frame members. Some of the storagefacilitiesare provided with supporting brackets for the immediatesupport of the boats, which brackets are permanently secured tin placecommodate different sizes of boats. Furthermore, .the storage structuresare of many designs andmanufactured in many different ways fromstructural membersmade ofeither wood or metal or combinations of both.Recently, in line with the ever increasing use of pallet rack structurescomposedxof easily connected beams. and uprights, efforts have beenmadeto provide such a rack structure. suited for the storage ofboats-and like articles. It is the principal object ofthis invention toprovide a suitable rack structure constructed of easily detachable beamsanduprights whichis substantially of standard .construction and whichhas bracketsyadapted forsimpleconnection to the rackstructure.fortsupporting theaimmedia'te'support members used to supporta boat -or the like @without requiring any revision or change in thestandard rack components.

In orderto accomplish this objective; itis-anotherobjectzof theinvention to provide-a bracket for connection to therack structure whichis frictionally connectedito it, rather than by means of fastenersprotruding through openings inrtherack. structure.

it is another object of the invention to provide such a bracket whichhas-a channel-shaped basefor straddling'a' first horizontal beam of therack structure and has asuperstructure with face portions to which otherbeams can be. attached, which beams provide thedirect support fortaboator the like.

.:Another.objectof the invention is to. :providesuch a-bracket.whichyhas two faces of different :heightito accommodate horizontalsupporting beams of differentdepths, andbottom ledges are provided onthebracketforsuitably supportinglthe lower portions of the supportingi'beams .when they are fastened to the bracket.

Another object of the invention =istto provideta threaded fastener.forfrictionally connecting thebracket tovtheurack structure, whichfastener has. an inner .end bearingagainsta .portion of the rackstructure andis provided with anutonthe .sembled onto a beam of the rackstructure; and

FIGJ4 showsa front elevation of the bracket. As shown in FIG. 1, a rackstructurerlisprovided made up of vertical uprights '2. spaced from-eachothertand provided :with horizontal beams 3 assembled: to the uprightstohold them in..spaced relationship.v Although the front faceeofithe rackstructure is shown,.it should be understood that there can t beuprightsbehindthose visible in FlG.klxconnected to additional beams andthereare front .to back beams (not-shown) which-connect between thefront row of uprights andthose in .a row behind it. In this manner, therack structure consists of .a

withoutmonveniently permitting variation in .spacing .to .ac-

.on the-right of the wall 13. In either case, both beams can'bot Qframework of defined cubicles or openings 4 extending horizontallythrough the rack structure.

.Eachof these openings'4 ismade large enough to accom- -modate theentire width of a-boat5 or other similar article positioned .in theopening. ln' orderwto properly support the boat 5 in an opening 4, itrestsupon horizontal beams 6 extending front to backthrough the opening4.1These beams 6 are suitably. mounted onbracketsj7 which are, inturn,.sup-

ported on the beams 3at the forward and rear regions of the opening4.

One of the brackets 7 is shown in moredetail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4' whereitis evident that a bracket7 is provided with an inverted channel base 8havinga top..wall9.secured between two sidewallsfl0tand. l1. Mounted tothe top wall 9 ispa superstructure l2 whichco'nsists of a vertical wall13 terminating at 14 to the top wall9 of the base 8. The. superstructure12 also is-provided withan anglemember 15 arranged asashortvertioalwall16 connected at 17. to an upper ledge or shelf portion18above the level of thetopwall 9 of the base 8.

.The normal assembly ofithe bracket 7.to a horizontal beam "3isindicated in' FIG. 3wherea threaded bolty20 is providedthroughanopening'l9 in the iwallll of the .base 8.The inner end20a ofthebolt 20 is positioned to bearyagainst a wall portion3a of the beam3.A:nut 20b is threaded onto the threaded -portion of the bolt2 0 andurged in a direction against the .inner wall:1la of thewall *llof thebase 8. In thismanner a frictionalbearing is-provided wherein thebracket 7 is held in place by thebolt '20 bearingagainst the-wall 3a ofthe beam 3 andthe .wall 10 of the base 8 against the wall 30 of the beam3.

With the typeof beam shown in FIG. 3, which is stepped at its one cornertohave a vertical wall 3aintersecting a horizontal wall 3d,the positionof thehole 19 in the base8 is such that tthe-nut lfibon the bolt20isprevented from rotation upon rotation of the bolt-.20 because aflaton the-head of the nut .2012 .is :close to. the wall 3d. Thisfacilitates tightening and loosening ofthenut20bby merely rotating thehead.20c of the bolt.

When thebeam is provided withaa deeper step asindicated The holes l9tand2l are'provided at opposite ends of the bracket7 and throughboth walls1'0 and ll-of it so that at mleasttwo-bolts canbe used .ata time forstabilityand the rbracket can be-positioned in a direction to correspondto the steponthe beamzused.

Thefrictional .connection shown by the use of' the bolt is easyttoemployand permits quickassemb ly and disassembly .for facilitating shifting ofthe brackets along the beam mem- "bers to vary the spacing'betweenbrackets for accommodating different size boats or other articles.

. F or=adequately mounting an article, it is evident from-FlG. l

that two brackets are needed at each end of i the article, nalthoughthefront elevation of FIG. .1 indicates only the front 1 two brackets.

To :join thehorizontal beams .6,"6 to the brackets, holes22 tareprovidedin the verticalwall I3. Beam6 of greatest depth can be mountedon the left side of the bracket as indicated in both FIGS. land 4, or abeam 6' of less. depth can-be provided tom on the bracket. The beam onthe left can bottom on the top wall 9.:while the-beam on the right canbottom on the shelf 18.1Theholes 22 can carry bolts secured to the beams6,16 for holding them.wpositioned. It .is ordinarily expected that thebeams 6, 6' will be covered with carpeting or other soft material so.thatthey will not injure thearticle Sresting. on

. them.- If the beams 6, 6 are .of wood, as is customaryythisfacilitates securing the carpeting to them inan easy manner by the useof nails orother simple fasteners.

Although only a single embodiment of the invention has beenshown anddescribed, it should be apparent-that the invention can be manufacturedin many different ways without departing from the true scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A support structure for storage of boats and like articlescomprising: vertical uprights and first horizontal beams connectedtogether to provide a rack having defined openings into which thearticles are positioned for storage, brackets mounted on the horizontalbeams for supporting second horizontal beams which directly support thearticles stored in the structure, each bracket having an invertedchannel-shaped base for straddling a first horizontal beam and asuperstructure for fastening to a portion of a second horizontal beam,fastening means mounted on the base andarranged to frictionally bearagainst the first horizontal beam straddled by the base in order toattach the bracket to the first horizontal beam, said superstructurehaving two vertical faces on its opposite sides to which said secondhorizontal beams are to be connected, the faces being of differentvertical heights to thereby accommodate second horizontal beams ofdifferent heights depending upon which face the second horizontal beamsare connected, the lower end of one of the faces on the superstructureterminating at the upper surface of the channel-shaped base and thelower end of the other face on the superstructure terminating above thelevel of the channelshaped base at a shelf portion extending from theface, said upper surface and said shelf portion acting as lower supportsfor the second horizontal beams secured to said faces of thesuperstructure.

2. A support structure for storage of boats and like articlescomprising: vertical uprights and first horizontal beams connectedtogether to provide a rack having defined openings into which thearticles are positioned for storage, brackets mounted on the horizontalbeams for supporting second horizontal beams which directly support thearticles stored in the structure, each bracket having an invertedchannel-shaped base for straddling a first horizontal beam and asuperstructure for fastening to a portion of a second horizontal beam,fastening means mounted on the base and arranged to frictionally bearagainst the first horizontal beam straddled by the base in order toattach the bracket to the first horizontal beam, said fastening meansbeing a threaded fastener passing through an opening in a wall of saidbase, the inner end of the fastener reacting against a wall of the firsthorizontal beam straddled by the base, and a nut threadably engaged onthe fastener to bear against an inside wall of the base in a directiontoward the outer end of the fastener to thereby urge the inner end ofthe fastener into reaction against said wall of the first horizontalbeam.

3. A support structure defined by claim 2 characterized by, said nutbeing prevented from rotation by being confined between a portion ofsaid base and a portion of the first horizontal beam, whereby tighteningand loosening of the nut on the fastener can be accomplished by merelyrotating the fastener relative to the stationary nut.

1. A support structure for storage of boats and like articlescomprising: vertical uprights and first horizontal beams connectedtogether to provide a rack having defined openings into which thearticles are positioned for storage, brackets mounted on the horizontalbeams for supporting second horizontal beams which directly support thearticles stored in the structure, each bracket having an invertedchannel-shaped base for straddling a first horizontal beam and asuperstructure for fastening to a portion of a second horizontal beam,fastening means mounted on the base and arranged to frictionally bearagainst the first horizontal beam straddled by the base in order toattach the bracket to the first horizontal beam, said superstructurehaving two vertical faces on its opposite sides to which said secondhorizontal beams are to be connected, the faces being of differentvertical heights to thereby accommodate second horizontal beams ofdifferent heights depending upon which face the second horizontal beamsare connected, the lower end of one of the faces on the superstructureterminating at the upper surface of the channel-shaped base and thelower end of the other face on the superstructure terminating above thelevel of the channel-shaped base at a shelf portion extending from theface, said upper surface and said shelf portion acting as lower supportsfor the second horizontal beams secured to said faces of thesuperstructure.
 2. A support structure for storage of boats and likearticles comprising: vertical uprights and first horizontal beamsconnected together to provide a rack having defined openings into whichthe articles are positioned for storage, brackets mounted on thehorizontal beams for supporting second horizontal beams which directlysupport the articles stored in the structure, each bracket having aninverted channel-shaped base for straddling a first horizontal beam anda superstructure for fastening to a portion of a second horizontal beam,fastening means mounted on the base and arranged to frictionally bearagainst the first horizontal beam straddled by the base in order toattach the bracket to the first horizontal beam, said fastening meansbeing a threaded fastener passing through an opening in a wall of saidbase, the inner end of the fastener reacting against a wall of the firsthorizontal beam straddled by the base, and a nut threadably engaged onthe fastener to bear against an inside wall of the base in a directiontoward the outer end of the fastener to thereby urge the inner end ofthe fastener into reaction against said wall of the first horizontalbeam.
 3. A support structure defined by claim 2 characterized by, saidnut being prevented from rotation by being confined between a portion ofsaid base and a portion of the first horizontal beam, whereby tighteningand loosening of the nut on the fastener can be accomplished by merelyrotating the fastener relative to the stationary nut.